AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Alhaji A. Barrie  In a move that has reverberated through diplomatic circles with quiet gravity, U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt, has officially resigned from his post, citing urgent family responsibilities.  The decision, confirmed by multiple sources, was prompted by a serious medical emergency involving his father, who is being discharged today following a major heart operation. Ambassador Hunt’s resignation was submitted directly to President Donald J. Trump and is effective immediately. He is not expected to return to Freetown. Leadership at the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone has now transitioned to Chargé d’Affaires Yancey, who will oversee mission operations in the interim. Sources close to Hunt describe the resignation as “immediate and deeply personal,” made within hours of receiving news of his father’s condition. With his mother now facing the emotional and logistical demands of caregiving, Hunt chose to step away from his diplomatic role to be present...

By: Alhaji A. Barrie  The Sierra Leone U-17 girls’ national football team commenced their campaign in the WAFU-A Girls Tournament with a commendable performance, securing a 2-1 victory over Senegal in the opening fixture held in Monrovia, Liberia.  The result marks a significant milestone for the team, reflecting both their preparedness and competitive spirit as they embark on a journey that holds promise for national pride and regional recognition. Held on September 15, 2025, the match marked the beginning of what promises to be a landmark tournament for West African youth football. Under the guidance of Head Coach Fatmata “Taribo” Turay, the young Lionesses displayed tactical maturity, relentless energy, and unwavering belief.  From kickoff, they pressed with purpose, defended with grit, and attacked with flair, earning two decisive goals that sealed the victory and sent a clear message to Group B rivals: Sierra Leone is not here to participate, they’re here to contend....

By: African Publicity  “This project is a practical solution to tackling extreme heat, one of the biggest challenges facing Accra today. By combining climate innovation with community needs, we make our city more livable and support our long-term goal of sustainable transportation.  Partnerships with young people are key to our success, and by collaborating with organisations like Bloomberg Philanthropies, we are advancing cities’ climate action in meaningful and lasting ways,” declared Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra, as he commended the launch of the Apata Initiative. Transforming Public Spaces with Cooling Sheds: The Apata Initiative, a youth-led project of the Youth Climate Action Fund under the auspices of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA)and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG is transforming public spaces with innovative cooling sheds made from reusable materials.  Named after the Twi word for “shade,” the...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  In a bid to turn young motorbike riders into agents of peace and community development, the Prevention First Initiative in collaboration with it's partners including the Peacebuilding Fund and UNDP,  organized a day's empowerment training at the Garden States Hall in Makeni. Themed as “Empowering Youth Bike Riders as Sustainable Agents of Change,” the event brought together dozens of commercial motorbike riders, widely seen as one of the most active but often misunderstood youth groups in Sierra Leone’s urban landscape. The training addressed crucial issues such as reproductive health, family planning, peacebuilding, and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In his opening remarks, Mr. Foday Mohamed Sesay, from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs commended the initiative, noting that bike riders interact with thousands of people daily and are well-positioned to influence public behavior. "Your role in society extends...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  In a commendable show of their continued humanitarian support, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international medical charity, on Thursday, September 11, 2025 donated over €500,00 (five hundred Euros) worth of essential medical supplies and equipment to the Magburaka Government Hospital in Tonkolili District. The donation, presented at MSF’s warehouse on Massokoh Line in Magburaka, marks the organization’s ongoing commitment to sustaining healthcare access in the region as it prepares to conclude its operations in Tonkolili by the end of September 2025. The event was attended by key local stakeholders, including Tonkolili District Medical Officer Dr. Augustine Jimissa and Deputy Chairperson of the Tonkolili District Council, Mr. Alimamy Samuel Kamara.  MSF officials led Awoko Newspaper and other attendees on a guided tour of the donated supplies, which include over 2,000 boxes of gloves, syringes, malaria medication, dressings, injectable drugs, and...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilso  The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at 13:00 hours on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at Liberia's SKD stadium has all to play for against Ethiopia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifiers. Sierra Leone had secured nine points from seven games (W2, D3, L2) and now hope to beat their remaining three Group A matches to finish second in their group. With the current group leaders Egypt already qualified with 19 points earned so far and few games more to wrap up the qualifies, Sierra Leone with (9points) and group A current second place team Burkina Faso with 14 points face an uneasy race to finish behind Egypt in the end of the qualifiers. Any team that finishes behind the group tooppers across across the nine groups ( A to I) will be handed a chance to compete against nine other nations for one of the four best second runners up place that will let them further take part in the continental spot for a place to next year's FIF...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Communities in Bombali District are applauding the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) for its ongoing Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) pilot project, which is already showing positive results in improving child health and vaccine uptake just four months after its launch. The SLL initiative, which began in April this year, is being rolled out in ten districts across the country. In Bombali, it targets hard-to-reach communities like Masongbo and Panlap, where it focuses on strengthening routine immunization, building trust in health systems, and supporting lactating mothers and caregivers. Local residents say the program is beginning to transform their communities and helping to rebuild trust in health. During a recent community dialogue session, Bombali Red Cross Branch Manager, Mohamed Chernor Sesay, emphasized that the project is helping bridge the gap between clinics and families who had previously been hesitant to vaccinate their children. He said: “Ma...